Southampton Inn Hosts Festive Gathering For Local Business & Community Leaders

Dede Gotthelf, owner of the Southampton Inn, hosted village business and community leaders at the inn for a holiday cocktail party to discuss how to attract more people to the village year-round, to create a sustainable winter economy.

Bill Manger, Mayor of the Village of Southampton, Dr. Peter Michalos, Chair of the Hamptons Health Society, Julie Ratner, founder of the Ellen Hermanson Foundation, along with business leaders including John Leonard, Gene Valle, Tom Guldi, Michael Gomberg, and Knight Meem attended the event.

Gotthelf, who is celebrating her 25th anniversary ownership of the inn comments, “The single most important thing to maintaining our businesses throughout the so-called ‘off season’ is working together. We will be more successful at encouraging people to visit and spend time in the Hamptons outside of the 13 weeks of the summer season, if we collaborate and support each other.”

Mayor Manger spoke about working with all the stakeholders in the village to bring vitality year-round. He discussed efforts to revitalize Windmill Lane and Nugent Street and enhance the entrance to the Village on North Sea Road.

To kick start business collaboration, Gotthelf announced that the 1,200 guests expected at the Inn during December will receive a holiday stocking stuffed with information and promotions on where to shop, dine, visit, and workout. Gotthelf announced a new partner marketing campaign and a new collaborative social media strategy.

Festive cocktails and libations were accompanied by appetizers such as beef filet crostini, mini crab cakes and mushroom and goat cheese tarts from Claude’s restaurant. Following remarks by Gotthelf, Mayor Manger and Peter Michalos, two guests won brunches for two at the restaurant.

A follow-up meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 10.